Shipley Art Gallery - Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums

The Shipley Art Gallery is home to a collection of over 700 breathtaking pieces by the country's leading craft makers. A dazzling selection of this collection is on permanent show and includes studio ceramics, glass, metalwork, jewellery, textiles and furniture. The Gallery also houses a collection of historical paintings including Dutch and Flemish old masters. Visit Made in Gateshead which explores the history of the town’s industry, its people and their skills.

William C. Irving’s spectacular painting capturing the spirit of the Blaydon Races is now on show in its new home at the Shipley Art Gallery. Following the nail-biting auction at Sotheby’s in London, Tyne & Wear Museums successfully bid £110,000 to keep this unique record of one of Tyneside’s most famous events in the region.
The gallery is home to The Henry Rothschild Study Centre which includes over 100 ceramic objects from this nationally important collection. The study centre offers experts, students and visitors the opportunity to view a survey of the major movements in British studio ceramics during the 20th century, along with a group of ceramics from European potters.

With a temporary exhibition programme and a wide range of regular events and activities there is something for all the family to enjoy.

Collection details

Key artists and exhibits

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (permanent)

Henry Rothschild Study Centre

1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now

The Henry Rothschild Study Centre presents a superb collection of 20th century craft and design amassed by Henry Rothschild between the 1940s and 2006.

The collection includes work by leading ceramicists working in Britain and internationally since the 1950s.

Although wide-ranging, the collection was not intended to be comprehensive or encyclopaedic. It is a testament to Henry Rothschild’s passion for ceramics and his zest and enthusiasm for discovering outstanding works made by highly skilled craftspeople. In his own words, every piece ‘has its own story to tell and gives great pleasure on daily acquaintance’.

The Study Centre is the culmination of a long relationship between Henry Rothschild and the Shipley Art Gallery that began in 1990 with loans and gifts to the gallery. Henry was attracted to the Shipley’s commitment to encouraging public engagement with contemporary craft and design.

Today the Shipley is home to more than 330 works originally collected by Henry. This Study Centre enables us to see Henry Rothschild’s collection en masse for the first time.

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Designs for Life

1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now

The Designs for Life galleries showcase the Shipley’s craft and design collections, featuring more than 300 objects made in many parts of the world over the past 2000 years. These objects range from the special and unique to the everyday and mass-produced.

From teapots to tequilla glasses, lunchboxes to lanterns and chairs to candlesticks, this is a chance to see how design is everywhere in our lives.

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Eat, Drink and Make Merry!

25 February — 19 December 2015 *on now

Whether it’s sharing a meal with a loved one, having a pint in the pub, making music or dressing up for a night out, people have always found ways to celebrate life and enjoy themselves. Eat, Drink and Make Merry! is all about these celebrations.

It’s the culmination of a partnership project with Gateshead University of the Third Age (U3A), with the selected works chosen by the volunteers together with the curator.

If you would like to know more about volunteering at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, or about joining the U3A in your area, please contact us. Email: info@shipleyartgallery.org.uk.

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Blooming Marvellous

7 March — 5 September 2015 *on now

This truly magical, life-sized knitted garden was created in 2011 by over 2,500 knitters and crocheters in Dorset. People of from the age of 2 to 99 created elements of the garden, complete with woolly flora and fauna, garden gnomes and small creatures. An exhibition guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

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E-mail

Telephone

0191 477 1495

Fax

0191 478 7917

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.